Yamalube Yamaha Racing has revealed it will retain reigning SX2 champion Jay Wilson and Richie Evans for the 2019 Pirelli MX Nationals and Australian Supercross Championship, with Evans set to step up to the premier class.

In a rebuilding year that saw him earn the quarter-litre class championship in supercross, Wilson is excited to be remaining with the Queensland-based outfit for 2019 as he endeavours to add another title to his existing motocross and supercross crowns.

“2018 was a great season for me and more importantly, I have found a good balance in my life between racing, coaching and my family life,” Wilson commented.” I love all aspects of my life and the beauty of racing with the Yamalube Yamaha team is that I don’t have to worry about things as they have everything sorted and make racing fun.

“To win the supercross championship was a goal of mine and it was an emotional night all round but that’s in the past now and we have two championships to focus on this year and obviously the goal is to win them both. MX2 is always a tough class and there are plenty of great riders again this year but I’m setting my goals high, putting in the work and looking for a better season in 2019.

“The other advantage I have is that we already have logged plenty of time on the 2019 YZ250F and have a set-up we know will be competitive. I’m sure the team will continue to develop the bike and I feel confident we will be in a good place come round one.”

Evans will pilot the title-winning Yamaha YZ450F next season, which he believes will benefit his riding style and promote promising results in the highly-competitive division.

“When the team first approached me about racing a 450 in 2019, I wasn’t sure what to make of it as I feel there was still some results I could achieve on the 250 in MX2 but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do it and now I’m 100% on board.

“It’s also good to be back with the same team and sponsors again for 2019,” said Evans. “We all get along well, and the guys work hard to its good to go racing knowing everything has been done and my job is simply to ride fast.

“In the MX2 class, most of the riders run a high revving, let it all hang out style which really isn’t the way I ride and the more powerful motor of the 450 suits where I ride the bike in the power range. It’s also a chance to challenge myself against the best riders in Australia.

“I just need to look at what my brother Mitch was able to do in the MX1 class with some hard work. I saw what he achieved at close range and although he has set the family bar high, I hope to keep the Evans name up there in the MX1 class.”

Kawasaki BCperformance has confirmed Bryan Staring will return to the squad in the 2019 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), with former international Lachlan Epis entering the team as an exciting addition.

Staring, who finished up sixth in the championship standings this year with an overall win to his name, is excited to remain with the outfit as he targets the crown in 2019.

“I am particularly happy to remain with the Kawasaki BCperformance racing team for 2019,” said Staring. “The positive dynamic of this small team creates a motivational environment that’s a pleasure to be involved with. We continually learnt as a team throughout the 2018 season.

“I look forward to applying our knowledge and experience together to ensure 2019 is a greater success. I must thank Kelvin Reilly, Kawasaki and all the team sponsors for their continuing support towards the team, one that I am very happy to be a part of.”

Epis joins the team after campaigning in Australia throughout 2018 for his first full-time Superbike assault, ultimately replacing outgoing talent Kyle Buckley.

“I’m super excited to be riding for Kawasaki BCperformance racing team in the 2019 ASBK Championship on board a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR,” Epis commented. “I am really looking forward to getting stuck in and being surrounded by an experienced and professional team. I’m looking forward to my first full year on a Superbike and absorbing as much information as I can before the season starts in February.

“I would like to thank Kelvin Reilly, BCperformance and Kawasaki Motors Australia for this opportunity and I’m looking forward to seeing what I’ve got next year. Having an experienced teammate in Bryan Staring is something that I’m really looking forward to as I begin my rookie campaign.”

Team owner and manager Kelvin Reilly added: “For 2019 I believe we have a real dynamic team that will gain results, along with the updated 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR. It’s a pleasure to be working with Bryan again and achieving success he so rightly deserves after the valuable experience we gained during the 2018 campaign.

“I believe from the get go we can achieve race wins and be in with a shot of the championship in what is going to be another super competitive year. Continuing with tradition, we also welcome 18 year old Lachlan Epis to the team. He has shown great speed during some one-off appearances on a Superbike in 2018 and has plenty of world championship experience to draw from.

“As our working relationship gets stronger and stronger every year, it is also a pleasure to work with Kawasaki Motors Australia and I must thank them for their continued support along with all our other sponsors who will be announced shortly.”

The opening round of the 2019 Australian Superbike Championship is scheduled for 21-24 February at Phillip Island in Victoria, which will run in conjunction with the opening round of the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK).

The iconic International Island Classic is set to return to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in 2019 as the event celebrates its 26th edition on 25-27 January.

Boasting a century of motorbikes, the event is a true motorcycle festival with close to 500 bikes racing and on display, including classic Indians, Nortons and Vincents through to vintage Triumphs, Harleys and Ducatis.

There’s six historic categories from pre-WW1 bikes through Vintage (1920-1945), Classic and Post Classic (1946-1972) and the more recent forgotten era and new era classes fighting for class honours and the Phil Irving perpetual trophy.

The International Challenge remains on the cards for its 15th year, which will will see defending champions Australia take on the USA and New Zealand on bikes manufactured between 1973 and 1984, piloted by riders boasting loads of experience and exceptional talent.

Teams from Australia, the US and NZ will fill the International Challenge grid for four, six-lap races, with the Aussies ready to defend the crown they wrestled back from the UK in last January.

Captain Rex Wolfenden has released his team of star recruits including the squad’s ace performer of 2018, Adelaide’s David Johnson, who led the Aussies back to the winner’s circle after three years lagging behind the Brits. Johnson will be back on the Suzuki XR69, hoping to emulate his 2018 performance which included two wins and two seconds en-route to being awarded the Ken Wootton Memorial Trophy for best individual performance.

Also back in the saddle after an Island Classic hiatus will be Isle of Man specialist Cam Donald and Melbourne’s Jed Metcher on the T-Rex Racing Honda. Metcher, who just took out the Australian Historic Championship at Broadford in November, will race the Honda he campaigned to victories at the Island Classic in 2016 and 2017.

The Australian team boasts great depth and experience with world endurance champion Steve Martin, three-time Australian superbike champion and Island Classic champion Shawn Giles, and Coffs Harbour’s Beau Beaton who in 2018 won the Phil Irving trophy.

In addition, there’s Dean Oughtred, Aaron Morris, Paul Byrne, Craig Ditchburn and returning for his umpteenth appearance, long-time campaigner Scott Webster.

The Island Classic is the perfect Australia Day getaway without breaking the bank. A three-day adult ticket for the Island Classic, purchased in advance, is just $82, and free for children 15 and under (accompanied by a full-paying adult).

You can camp at the circuit for four nights for just over $20 per night (with kids once again free) which is a bargain in anyone’s language. For more information, visit www.islandclassic.com.au.